Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

Vienna Legation Files, 1945, Part 27, 848–UNRRA: Telegram

The United States Political Adviser for Austrian Affairs (Erhardt) to the Secretary of State

[Vienna, October 18, 1945—4:30 p.m.]

PV 8301. October 11 General Clark received from War Department War 74204 October 9 containing substance of State Department’s 137⁵² (my 325, October 11, 1945⁵³).

Prior to Executive Committee meeting of October 16 the French member put forward a French proposal indicating general support for having UNRRA undertake relief and rehabilitation operations in Austria. Both this proposal and U.S. proposal referred to in my 325 were placed before executive committee, and committee chose United States proposal for consideration. After brief discussion it was agreed to submit to Allied Council a draft cable to UNRRA inviting latter to send two or three technical representatives to Austria to confer on possible working arrangements, to obtain data on extent of Austrian requirements, and to investigate problems of transportation and distribution. Although United States proposal as introduced also recommended steps to invite UNRRA formally to undertake relief and rehabilitation operations, no action was taken on such steps by executive committee. It was pointed out that inviting technical representatives would not commit Allied Council to inviting UNRRA to undertake relief and rehabilitation operations. Department will be advised of Council action on cable.⁵⁴

Some doubt exists here whether United States Government is definitely in favor of having UNRRA undertake such operations. It is reasoned that to the extent that UNRRA takes over burden of civilian supply, United States will bear 70 to 80 per cent of the cost with no possibility of reimbursement, whereas if Allied Military Forces carry the burden the United States outlay is limited to supplies for United States Zone, plus at present supplies for French Zone for which some reimbursement may ultimately be received. I would appreciate further advice from Department as to its views, and if possible some appraisal of present sentiment in Congress re the necessary appropriation.

Advice which I have given informally on this question up to the present is that, considering all factors, UNRRA should undertake relief and rehabilitation operations in Austria. If this is confirmed, I assume it follows that Department favors haying UNRRA carry as large a portion of the supply burden as it proves capable of carrying.

[Erhardt]

52. This telegram, not printed, informed the Political Adviser that the Department had sent a letter to the War Department suggesting that since Austrian relief requirements were still unclear, General Clark should propose to the Allied Council that a team of two or three UNRRA experts be allowed to survey the situation in Austria so that an UNRRA relief program could begin (840.50–UNRRA/9–2745).
53. Not printed. In this telegram the Political Adviser informed the Department that as a result of discussions between General Clark and UNRRA officials a proposal had been drafted for submission to the Allied Council inviting UNRRA to study Austrian relief needs and to extend relief and rehabilitation operations to Austria. (840.50 UNRRA/10–1145)
54. By means of telegram P–4577, October 29, the Political Adviser reported that the cable was approved by the Allied Council and despatched to UNRRA on October 20 (Vienna Legation Files, 1945, 848–UNRRA).